October 18, 2003

Choosing a Spreader

Sometimes, nothing seems simple in gardening
and caring for your landscape! Even choosing the best spreader for your
landscape needs can be a puzzle.

There are big spreaders, little spreaders, drop spreaders, cyclone
spreaders? Whoa! Walter to the rescue! He'll demonstrate the use of
three kinds of spreaders and shows you how to use them properly to help
you in your decision. After all, having and using the right spreader
reduces the chances of polluting our streams and waterways with lawn
chemicals that are improperly applied to your curbs, driveways,
streets, and sidewalks. Fertilizers and pesticides applied to those
areas often pollute storm water and eventually streams, rivers and
other surface waters. Remember! Garden to protect our water quality!

Picking a Tree

When shopping at your local garden center, how
do you choose the very best tree to plant in your landscape? You say
look at the branches, leaves and other visible parts of the tree? Well,
don't be deceived! The top of a nursery-grown tree may look healthy,
but it is the rootball that will ultimately determine how well the tree
will grow once you've planted it in your yard. Walter points out how
the rootball may hide problems, and he shows how to check the roots
before you buy so that you, too, can get the very best tree for your
$$$$.

Preparing Dahlias for Winter

Dahlias are one of the most exuberant
flowering plants in the Southern garden. The tubers, however, will not
usually survive winter outdoors. To keep those plants for next year,
you'll have to dig and store them in warmer temperatures. Walter shows
you how to dig the roots using a garden fork. He strongly suggests
dusting any wounds with sulfur to avoid diseases. Walter packs dahlia
roots in a plastic tub filled with perlite and places the tub in a cool
spot until planting time next spring.